The legendary vehicle arrived in the city this week as part of a 40-day trip around Ireland to raise money for both Down Syndrome Ireland and the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Ireland.

The milk float features in the Speed 3 episode, a spoof on the Speed movies, which sees the amorous Pat Mustard plot his revenge on Ted and Dougall for taking his milk round.

The vehicle began its epic voyage, which is being sponsored by Paddy Power bookmakers, in Galway on January 20, and it will be pushed and towed around the country before returning to its starting point on February 28.

The legendary vehicle will then take a starring role in the Father Ted festival due to be held on Inis Mor, one of the Aran Islands.

Padraic Delaney of Down Syndrome Ireland said he hoped the milk float's travels would increase awareness of Down Syndrome both north and south of the border.

"We will be in the North for eight days", he said.

"Over the next 40 days we hope to create awareness of people with Down Syndrome. There has to be a focus on abilityrather than disability.

People are being denied the opportunity to develop to their potential.
"The reaction wherever we have gone has been very warming and embracing. All sorts of people are coming to get their picture taken with it.

"The episode which it is featured on is ten years old and the milk float is 70 years old. All of a sudden it has developed an iconic status."

Ken Robertson, whose firm Paddy Power own the milk float, said that it was tracked down in a film studio in Wicklow.

"We sponsored the Father Ted festival last year and decided to try and find the milk float to bring to Inis Mor", he said.

"We managed to track it down to a film studio in Wicklow where it was being used as a runaround by production staff.

"We made them an offer they couldn't refuse.
"It was such a success at the festival that we decided to take it on the road to raise money for charity."